After an adventure-filled overnight journey from Kathmandu you reach Birendranagar in Surkhet, one of western Nepal’s commerce hubs. The town is from where food supplies reach rural Karnali, one of the most underdeveloped parts of Nepal. The city is also the place to go for people living in Dailekh, Jajarkot and Acham districts. It is also home to a domestic airport from where regular flights connect major towns across the country. But one landmark that defines the city is the famous Bulbule Taal (pictured above). Although Bulbule is not big as the Fewa or the Rupa, it captures the imagination of western Nepal.
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It is said that Surkhet is like an open museum. It is where the Panche Baza is still played on special occasions as locals clad in daura surwal dance to the tune of the Paisari.
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Around a 30 minute drive from Birendranagar lies Kankrebihar, dubbed Nepal’s ‘Second Lumbini’. The site is rich in ancient Buddhist architecture. A plan to renovate the area and open it for tourists is likely to be completed next year.
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When you reach Kankrebihar, you meet local artisans renovating the monuments. They combine their traditional knowledge with individual artistic talent to breathe new life into the monuments.
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The famous Deutibajai Temple also lies in Surkhet. Each year thousands of devotees throng the temple to seek blessings from the goddess.
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The city of Birendranagar has emerged as melting pot of various cultures from western Nepal. The iconic clocktower in central Birendranagar is a testament of the city’s growing importance, not only in the west, but also in all of Nepal.
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